Fluorinated products and process



Patented Oct. 12, 1948 FLUORINATED PRODUCTS AND PROCESS Atherton M. Whaley, Columbia, S. C.

No Drawing. Application March 25, 1946, Serial No. 657,071

Claims.

My invention relates to the fluorination of chemical compounds, and more particularly to a new process of fluorinating organic compounds which contain both halogen and oxygen, and the production thereby of new fluorinated compounds never produced heretofore.

The new compounds are useful, per se, in the chemical field and also will serve as intermediates or stepping stones in the synthesis of other valuable chemical compounds particularly those containing fluorine, such as fluorinated acids, aldehydes, alcohols and ketones, and their derivatives.

The process of my invention is technically different from those known heretofore and furthermore has the practical advantages of being carried out at atmospheric pressure and moderate temperatures in contrast to many prior fluorination processes that require high temperatures and pressures.

One of the features of my process is the preparation of organic compounds containing both fluorine and oxygen. Up to now it has proven relatively difficult to introduce fluorine into most organic compounds that contain oxygen. However, this is now easily and economically accomplished by my process in which a halogenated organic compound, containing an oxygen atom in a certain definite position with respect to the position of a halogen atom or atoms in this compound, is reacted with an inorganic fluoride compound. In this reaction the fluorine of the inorganic compound replaces specific halogen (chlorine, bromine, or iodine) atom or atoms in the organic compound.

While I do not wish to be limited to any theory or explanation of the ease of operation of my process, it appears that the halogen atom to be replaced is seemingly activated by the oxygen atom which is attached to a carbon atom common to both. When using this type of organic compound the fluorination may be effected easily with inexpensive inorganic fiuorinating agents.

In accordance with my invention organic compounds represented by the following type formula may be used in the fluorinating reaction:

in which,

X is chlorine, bromine or iodine; Y is fluorine, chlorine, bromine, iodine; R1 and R2 are halo-gen, hydrocarbon group, oxygen, or hydrogen or any combination of these.

in which X is a chlorine or bromine or iodine atom.

Examples of compounds which possess the above essential nucleus are:

1. 1,1 dichloro 1, 2 ep Xy-Z-methyIpropane having the formula:

2. 1,1 dichloroepoxyethane having the formula:

CCIl-' QH2 3. 2,2 dichloro 1,2 epoxyethylethyl ether having the formula:

CClz-'-CH(OEt) 4. 2,2 dibromo, 1,2 epoxyethylethyl ether having the formula:

CH(OEt) The chlorine, bromine, or iodine atom attached as in the above compounds is easily replaced by fluorine, when reacted with a suitable fluorinating compound. Illustrative but non-limiting examples of useful fluorinating compounds are the following;

Antimony trifluoride Calcium fluoride Mercury fluorides Silver fluoride When organic compounds of the type represented by the structural formulae given hereinabove are reacted with the fluorinating agents, such as illustrated by the examples just above, fiuorlnated organic compounds containing both fluorine and oxygen are produced and may be represented by the following general formula:

r i RaGO-Y in which,

F is a fluorine atom; Y is fluorine, chlorine, bromine, iodine; R1 and R2 are halogen, hydrocarbon group,

4 a wherein, F is fluorine, Y stands for a member of the group consisting of fluorine, chlorine, bromine, iodine, R1 and R2 each stands for a member of the group consisting of halogen, hydrocarbon, oxygen, hydrogen and combinations thereof. s

2. The product 1,1 difluoro 1,2 epoxy 2 methylpropane, having the formula:

oxygen, or hydrogen or any combination of. 7

these.

If Y and/or Z is halogen as chlorine, bromine or iodine, then Y can also be replaced by fluorine and we would have:

withlti, R2, and C2 being as stated justabove. Thus .my process can produce a mon ofiuoride or difluoride depending on how many halogen atoms are. replaced. by. fluorine.

Several specific examples. of .final products pro duced according to my process are:

1,1-djfluoroepoxyethane To illustrate my process with a fluorinating agent such as antimony trifluoridef The organic V halogen-oxygen compound is heated with powdered antimony trifluoride. The reaction proceeds rapidly and the fluorinated product is separated by distillation or mechanically, then washed, driedand fractionated.

Example 141 gms.

CHz(lJ- CClz CH3 (1,1-(lichloro-1,2 epoxy-2 methylpropane) is heated with 130 gms. SbFs (antimony trifluoride). The reaction takes place quickly and th reaction product: V V v CHaC C F2 CH3 3. Amethod of producing fluorinated products that contain both fluorine and oxygen, comprising heating an organic compound of the general formula:

r i RT-G\''/ OY V 0 wherein, X stands for a member of the group consisting-of chlorine, bromine, and iodine, Y stands for a member of thegroup consisting of fluorine,-

chlorine, bromine, iodine, R1 and R2 each stands for a member of thegroup consisting of halogen, hydrocarbon, oxygen, hydrogen; with an inor ganic fluorine comp-oundselected from the group consisting-of antimony trifluorida'calcium fluo-, ride; mercury fluorides and silver-fluoride sothat the'fiuorine thereof replaces part or-all-of the halogen in the said organic compound;

4. A method of producing fluorinated products that contain (both fluorineand oxygen comprising reacting an organic compound having the nucleus:

wherein, X is a member selected from-'thegroup consisting of chlorine, bromine and iodine, with an inorganic fluorine compound selectedfrom the group consisting of antimony trifiuoride, calcium fluoride,-mercury fluorides and silver fluoride so that the fluorine thereof replaces the halogen in saidorganiccompound.

5. A method of producing the compound 1,1- difluoro 1,2 epoxy-2-methylpropane comprising reacting 1,1 dichloro-LZ epoxy-2-methylpro- V pane, with antimony trifluoride. r

, ATHERTON WHALEY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references.are offrecordin the file of this patent: V

UNITED STATES: PATENTS Number Name 7 ,Date 2,086,077 Groll July 6, 1937 2,'l04',706. Harmon Ju1y723, 1946 2,427,624 Rushrrner et al Sept. 16, 1947 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country- I 'Date 363,099 Great Britain Dec. 17, 1931 477,843 Great Britain Jan. 3, 1938 OTHER REFERENCES Booth and Burchiield: Journal American Chemical Society, 57, 2070 (1935). 

